Police continue investigation into officer-involved shooting death

Neighbor in southeast Cape area describes Chernin as just a family man

June 25, 2013

Every once in a while, Dorothy Tierney would walk down the Southwest 15th Street and she would see Mark Alan Chernin in his driveway, playing with one of his remote control helicopters that he brought home from the hobby shop he owned in Fort Myers.

"He was just part of a working family, like all of us here," Tierney said.

On Monday, police identified Chernin, 43, of 2211 S.E. 15th St., as the man confronted by police responding to a report of a man walking in southeast Cape Coral with a rifle.

The Cape Coral Police Department Investigative Services Bureau is conducting the investigation into the shooting. Once that is complete, the department's Professional Standards Bureau will conduct an administrative review. This is standard procedure, police officials said.

No other details, including the name of the officer or officers involved, have been released as the investigative process continues. The department hopes to have more information available by the week's end, officials said Tuesday.

Tierney said she knew few details about Chernin or the family, which, she said, included children.

Tierney did say what little interaction she had with the family was cordial and that he seemed like everyone else.

"I didn't know the family very well. I'd see him playing with his helicopters in the driveway. He owned a hobby shop," Tierney said. "He'd say hello, I'd say hello. That was about it."

The Chernin family could not be reached for comment.

Another neighbor declined comment as did employees at Paradise Hobbies, the store Chernin owned.

The business Web site mentioned nothing of Chernin or the incident, saying only that it was a full-service, family owned and operated, hobby shop specializing in radio-controlled cars and trucks, helicopters, airplanes, boats, and all the parts and accessories.

Chernin was arrested in Lee County in 1998 for domestic battery and was sentenced to one year of probation, according to the Lee County Clerk of Court Website. Aside from a few traffic infractions, he has no other record.